Mar 2, 2014, 8:47 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals of designated member participants to travel to the United States for tourism or business (B visa category) purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.
On February 28, 2014, Chile was designated as a member of the Visa Waiver Program, bringing the total to 38 countries. Beginning May 1, 2014, Chilean nationals may travel to the United States under the VWP.
Chilean travellers to the US no longer need a visa but must pay the US $14 ESTA fee; passport holders from certain countries may travel without visas, so long as their passports meet certain requirements. Link to USCBP ESTA application web page.
Chilean passport holders should note: only an electronic passport or e-passport (one with a chip that holds biographical data) will be accepted for the VWP. These have been issued in Chile since Sept. 2, 2013. Link to US Embassy in Santiago web pages with further information
US Passport holders visiting Chile are exempt (as of 26 Feb 2014) from the visa reciprocity fee of US $160 paid previously (for a multiple entry visa valid for the life of the passport in which it is entered); Link to SCL Airport site stating reciprocity fee no longer collected from US passport holders (reciprocity still applies to Albanians, Australians, Canadians and Mexicans - link).
Canadian passport holders are now exempted from recipripocity fees 11 Jan 2015)
Link to TIMATIC Web offered by Star Alliance to check visa requirements.
Earlier, speculative posts (prior to announcement and implementation) may be found in End Of Chilean Reciprocity Fee? [Archival].
(lower right wiki corner)The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals of designated member participants to travel to the United States for tourism or business (B visa category) purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.
On February 28, 2014, Chile was designated as a member of the Visa Waiver Program, bringing the total to 38 countries. Beginning May 1, 2014, Chilean nationals may travel to the United States under the VWP.
Chilean travellers to the US no longer need a visa but must pay the US $14 ESTA fee; passport holders from certain countries may travel without visas, so long as their passports meet certain requirements. Link to USCBP ESTA application web page.
Chilean passport holders should note: only an electronic passport or e-passport (one with a chip that holds biographical data) will be accepted for the VWP. These have been issued in Chile since Sept. 2, 2013. Link to US Embassy in Santiago web pages with further information
US Passport holders visiting Chile are exempt (as of 26 Feb 2014) from the visa reciprocity fee of US $160 paid previously (for a multiple entry visa valid for the life of the passport in which it is entered); Link to SCL Airport site stating reciprocity fee no longer collected from US passport holders (reciprocity still applies to Albanians, Australians, Canadians and Mexicans - link).
Canadian passport holders are now exempted from recipripocity fees 11 Jan 2015)
Link to TIMATIC Web offered by Star Alliance to check visa requirements.
Earlier, speculative posts (prior to announcement and implementation) may be found in End Of Chilean Reciprocity Fee? [Archival].
End Of Chilean Reciprocity Fee! [Entry into US Visa Waiver Program Feb 2014]
Mar 1, 2014, 8:00 pm
#16
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Take along some food and water for the trip, it is a little long. You may have to ditch some foods at the border crossing, though, just show the customs guys.
Mar 2, 2014, 8:28 am
#17
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Dilatory / off topic posts have been deleted. Please keep this on topic.
A Wikipost has been added for ease of members who want the meat of the information without reading through the posts.
Earlier, speculative posts (prior to announcement and implementation) may be found in End Of Chilean Reciprocity Fee? [Archival].
JDiver
Senior Moderator
A Wikipost has been added for ease of members who want the meat of the information without reading through the posts.
Earlier, speculative posts (prior to announcement and implementation) may be found in End Of Chilean Reciprocity Fee? [Archival].
JDiver
Senior Moderator
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 2, 2014 at 9:27 am
Mar 2, 2014, 9:04 am
#18
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Mar 3, 2014, 3:51 am
#19
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Does anybody know what the exact immigration procedure is going to be for US Citizens upon arrival at SCL....? Wonder if they will be doing anything similar to the US procedures of photo and fingerprinting, etc...?
Mar 3, 2014, 7:55 am
#20
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I'm also personally very happy this fee is no longer charged
.
Mar 3, 2014, 10:18 am
#21
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I doubt there will be any change from the current procedures. The only difference between reciprocity fee countries and those who don't pay is that the immigration officer first looks for the receipt stapled into the back of the passport. We "all" use the same lines with the same officers.
Mar 3, 2014, 12:21 pm
#22
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Eastbay1K is correct.
Unless you are one of the countries that has to visit the reciprocity counter, you just use the regular lines.
Visa / MC credit card machines weren't working at the reciprocity counter on our last visit so make sure you have enough USD cash on you to cover any fees.
Unless you are one of the countries that has to visit the reciprocity counter, you just use the regular lines.
Visa / MC credit card machines weren't working at the reciprocity counter on our last visit so make sure you have enough USD cash on you to cover any fees.
Mar 3, 2014, 1:39 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2002
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No indication that US citizens will be treated any different than before minus the payment booth step. Such an added move would have been all over the local media.
The fee was actually removed before the official signing which is surprising and makes it seem the Chileans were more eager to dump it than even those affected.
Remember, Chile had the fee much longer than a neighboring country and NEVER made a move to expand it past incoming international at SCL.
If a US citizen were to apply for a REAL visa, if approved, that would come with the photo and fingerprinting steps at the Registro Civil to obtain a CI.
The fee was actually removed before the official signing which is surprising and makes it seem the Chileans were more eager to dump it than even those affected.
Remember, Chile had the fee much longer than a neighboring country and NEVER made a move to expand it past incoming international at SCL.
If a US citizen were to apply for a REAL visa, if approved, that would come with the photo and fingerprinting steps at the Registro Civil to obtain a CI.
Mar 3, 2014, 9:27 pm
#24
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Same here. Went to Chile a number of times in the 90s.
We have been thinking of going back but for a family of 4 + grand parents that was a substantial expense especially because we wanted to do the Lake District and cross into Argentina
Now planning on returning this Thanksgiving probably
We have been thinking of going back but for a family of 4 + grand parents that was a substantial expense especially because we wanted to do the Lake District and cross into Argentina
Now planning on returning this Thanksgiving probably
This is great news for travelers from both countries. For the past year or two, I've been avoiding a return visit to Chile because my family's visas were no longer valid and I was looking at a $640 fee to enter. Now we will return as soon as we are able to.
I just wish they had made the announcement 2 weeks earlier. I've just booked my family on ff awards for Thanksgiving and Xmas. A few months ago, I booked my family on a visa-fee trip to Peru. I would definitely had made one of these trips "Chile" had I known. Oh well, I guess we'll wait another year. By then, perhaps there will be added air service, too.
<redacted>
I just wish they had made the announcement 2 weeks earlier. I've just booked my family on ff awards for Thanksgiving and Xmas. A few months ago, I booked my family on a visa-fee trip to Peru. I would definitely had made one of these trips "Chile" had I known. Oh well, I guess we'll wait another year. By then, perhaps there will be added air service, too.
<redacted>
Mar 4, 2014, 3:07 pm
#25
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I paid it about a month ago. I don't suppose a refund is possible. On the plus side, I guess I no longer have to worry about losing that stupid receipt they staple into your passport.
Mar 4, 2014, 7:57 pm
#26
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Question I might be ignorant of, does the US do this for all entrants? I.e. visa required passport holders, and visa waiver countries? The US does it to many others I'm aware of, but the only country of the 13 or so I have been to in the past few years that I recall taking mine down in response is South Korea. Just trying to think if it has been done already by the US prior to Chile's entry into the Visa Waiver program.
I'm also personally very happy this fee is no longer charged.
I'm also personally very happy this fee is no longer charged
.Malaysia also does it (unless you hold a MACS card at the back of your passport and you are either Singapore citizen or permanent resident, or are assisting in development in Malaysia. I know several people with the first type of MACS sticker, but none of the second, so I won't comment.)
Edit: Biometric information is also required for Macau passport (look at the passport application.)
Last edited by AA_EXP09; Mar 4, 2014 at 8:08 pm
Mar 4, 2014, 8:05 pm
#27
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Obviously, you would have paid when you arrived at SCL last month. Just rotten timing. Since they only sold one kind of visa, it's not like you had a choice of how much to pay.
The only lesson from this is that when you do have a choice in visa lengths, think carefully. I once bought a multi-year visa to a country that I knew I'd be back to, so I thought I was saving myself time and money. Shortly thereafter, the visa requirement was lifted. Some things are just ungameable, I guess.
Mar 4, 2014, 9:15 pm
#28
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Mar 4, 2014, 10:25 pm
#29
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Chilean Embassy to the USA still lists the $160 fee as being charged. As does the SCL website. What gives? I booked that TACA $370ish fare seen here on FT a few weeks ago and this would be sugar on that sweet deal. Is there an effective date or is it now? Getting conflicting information on the fee. Travel is end of this month for me.
Mar 5, 2014, 8:30 am
#30
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Chilean Embassy to the USA still lists the $160 fee as being charged. As does the SCL website. What gives? I booked that TACA $370ish fare seen here on FT a few weeks ago and this would be sugar on that sweet deal. Is there an effective date or is it now? Getting conflicting information on the fee. Travel is end of this month for me.
http://www.aeropuertosantiago.cl/tr-...acionales.html